Labels: Monotonstudio
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Well, I’m not 100% sure as to where these guys are from (some lyrics in German, German record label, French song titles), but I know that this is great slab of 10″ clear vinyl. Kobra Khan are playing the style of screamo that tends to be associated with French bands such as Alkatraz. This means fast, crunch, semi-melodic hardcore, mixed in with hoarse screams. And they pull off the trick superbly.
You can tell you’re onto a winner from the start with the twinkly intro, it’s just a case of how long they’re going to take till they bring the pain. And all of a sudden they lurch out of “pretty’ mode and into the full on assault of “Christa Paeffgen Collage”. The main vocals are blasting screams from the heart, whilst backup vocals are more typically sung in desperate emo fashion. They are adept at throwing in excellent touches into the songs to vary the sound “Hommage (1914-1997)” does this using a breakdown into an almost military drum-beat and a pounding groove. This all helps the record keep it’s feet with a semblance of melody amidst the driving chaos that would otherwise be non-stop. It’s almost as if they are pausing for breathe. Or perhaps it just gives the singer the chance to adjust his hair back into place after rolling on the floor for a moment. Though not for too long, the songs seem a little shorter than most I’ve heard in this style. Additionally there is a very odd track at the end which has had electronics liberally applied over the top of a guy talking. Weird.
They add to the mood with some sombre samples from what are probably French art-house films. There’s one of a French girl talking over some very sad sounding music, and she doesn’t sound in the best of spirits herself. If I was more of an expert in the language of the French, maybe I could put this into better perspective, but alas, my grade C skills from 1995 are a little rusty these days.
If you rock out to the powerful sounds of the French screamo, Saetia or Portrait, then this will definitely be a record you want to hear. So hear it.